Commercial Space News

SpaceWatch Global

LEAP Revives Hope for Mainland UK Vertical Launch with Sutherland Spaceport MoU

Payload

PAVE Space plans IBEX demo mission for maneuverable commercial and defense payload platform

PAVE Space plans to launch a demonstration mission of IBEX, a highly maneuverable spacecraft platform designed to carry commercial and defense payloads. The mission will provide an in-space demonstration of the platform; the announcement did not specify a launch date or payload details.

Bloomberg

High activity

Texas governor-elect asks state to pause talks on potential sale of park land to SpaceX

Gina Hinojosa used her first news conference since winning the Texas gubernatorial election to call for a pause in discussions over a potential sale of state park land to Elon Musk’s Space Exploration Technologies Corp. The articles provide no further details on the land or the proposed transaction.

SpaceNews.com

CesiumAstro raises $730 million in Series D at $4.5 billion-plus valuation and unveils Synchronicity constellation

CesiumAstro closed a $730 million Series D led by Janus Henderson, valuing the space and defense communications company at more than $4.5 billion. The financing announcement follows what the company called a fully successful Element-1 mission and the unveiling of its Synchronicity satellite constellation.

SpaceNews.com

CesiumAstro Secures $730 Million in Janus Henderson-Led Series D at a Valuation Above $4.5 Billion; Unveils Synchronicity Satellite Constellation Following Fully Successful Element-1 Mission

Reuters

High activity

FAA proposes streamlined launch and reentry rules ahead of 1,000 annual launches by 2030

The FAA proposed regulatory changes for commercial space launch and reentry licensing and plans a broader overhaul of its framework in 2027. The effort is intended to help the agency handle a projected 1,000 launches annually by 2030 and 10,000 launches and reentries combined each year by 2035.

CNBC

High activity

Blue Origin adds GS3 third stage and Northstar engine to New Glenn, targeting higher-energy orbits and lower manufacturing costs

Blue Origin CEO Dave Limp announced a third stage for New Glenn, designed to expand the rocket’s payload capabilities to geostationary orbit and the Moon, alongside the new Northstar booster engine. The company says the upgrades will also reduce manufacturing costs, with the engine targeted at one-quarter the cost.

Bloomberg

Musk plans to take SpaceX from satellite internet into U.S. wireless

SpaceX, which has already reshaped the internet-from-space business, is planning a terrestrial wireless network to compete with Verizon, T-Mobile and AT&T. The move would put Elon Musk’s company in direct competition with established U.S. mobile carriers as it expands beyond satellite connectivity.